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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-712" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Child Abuse and Neglect">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Emergency medical treatment” means medical or surgical care rendered by a provider in a laboratory, health care facility, or child advocacy center to a child under this section:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>to relieve any urgent illness, injury, severe emotional distress, or life–threatening health condition; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>to determine the existence, nature, or extent of any possible abuse or neglect.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Emergency medical treatment” includes, if appropriate, the use of telemedicine to achieve a timely expert diagnosis of child abuse or neglect.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Expert child abuse or neglect care” means the diagnosis or treatment of child abuse or neglect provided by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a physician;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a multidisciplinary team or multidisciplinary team member;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a health care facility; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>a staff member of a health care facility who is an expert in the field of abuse and neglect.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Multidisciplinary team” means a group of professionals with expertise in various professional disciplines who provide consultation, treatment, and planning in cases of child abuse and neglect.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Provider” includes a physician, multidisciplinary team or multidisciplinary team member, a child advocacy center, a health care facility, or health care facility personnel.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Any provider who is licensed or authorized to practice a profession in this State shall examine or treat any child, with or without the consent of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, to determine the nature and extent of any abuse or neglect to the child if the child is brought to the provider:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>in accordance with a juvenile court order;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>by a representative of a local department of social services who states that the representative believes the child is an abused or neglected child;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>by a police officer who states that the officer believes that the child is an abused or neglected child; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>by an individual required under § 5–704 of this subtitle to report suspected child abuse or neglect.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>If a provider examines a child under subsection (b) of this section and determines that emergency medical treatment or expert child abuse or neglect care is indicated, the provider may treat the child, with or without the consent of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A provider who examines or treats a child under this section shall have the immunity from liability described under § 5–621 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In accordance with regulations adopted by the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall pay for emergency medical treatment charges that are incurred on behalf of a child who is examined or treated under this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The child’s parent or guardian is liable to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy for the payments and shall take any steps necessary to secure health benefits available for the child from a public or private benefit program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The local department shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>immediately determine whether a child treated or examined under this section is eligible for medical assistance payments; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>secure medical assistance benefits for any eligible child examined or treated under this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>To the extent possible, the Governor shall include in the annual State budget funds for the payment of emergency medical treatment for children examined or treated under this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
